Penitent Cook plots a course to forgiveness with faithful

The chief executive of Apple has eaten a large slice of humble pie for the fiasco surrounding a new maps system on the latest iPhone that misplaces airports, renames cities and cuts short bridges.

Tim Cook, who replaced the late Steve Jobs at the helm of the world’s most valuable company, told customers that he was “extremely sorry” for glitches in Apple Maps and suggested that they try rival products instead.

The latest version of Apple’s bestselling mobile phone has proven to be a rare own goal. Apple has been deluged with complaints over Apple Maps, which replaced Google’s system as the default maps application on the iPhone 5 and on software upgrades for earlier phones.